davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

The above map Is drawn to Indicate .he
sources OF impurities thrown into the Passaic.
The large trunk sewers OF the cities ire shown
by the longer lines drawn from the river with
in the city limits. and the drains by the shorter
ries are shown, and the dots along the back
show the residences the drains OF which. It Is
said, have been disconnected from, the river.
Tho limit to which the sewage OF Newark Is
backed up and the limit OF salt water are indi-
Gated, but these vary somewhat, according to
the conditions Of the stream.
Prof. Albert X. Leeds OF the Stevens Insti-
tute OF Technology at Hoboken began series
OF Investigations when he became chemist of
the Board OF Pollution. After a thorough Sc
fies OF analyses and experiments In 1881 he
came to these conclusions:
First, that the evil effects OF the refuse at
Paterson. being largely overcome in the flow OF
sixteen miles do not require action. SO ur-
gently as the impurities introduced lower
down. Second, that II the impurities introduced
az Passaic were left out, those impurities not
having the same opportunity OF oxidation and
ment would be noted Third. that II is imper-
alive to keen back the up tide and the plan TO
do so by u properly located dam appears to DO
the best calculated TO meet the case.
The same year Mr.. Leeds said: "As far as
Passaic the influence OF the sea Is felt, as may
be noted By the large increase in the amount
OF salt held in solution. And even at dead low
tide this influence may be seen In the hgures
representing tho composition of mineral
matter at tho Newark intake. stu more at tho
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

tide carried a float, above the Newark intake.
would undoubtedly carry NJ, the sewage 2, Gf
their report under the head OF the examination
Of projects for a new supply. they say:
supply q gSSa water can be oe ,s
soISs any plan iaySiv9E ,hsii T;,:naop I. e b
r. i: ssss ass ~ Ssasss
Or ona!s @ % s y
ps s1 wSss ~ ss ssii sssi
idsdy oS,.ct,9nses even % now With The increase Of
come more Impure
This exhaustive report. embodying, besides
RESULTS o ber
the rs BY hs 8Ss
syndicate 81 New York capitalists. who pro
their hands BY eetting control Of all the ponds
in northern New jersey. recommended by Croes
HOW'LL as ahs
syndicate confidently sat down In. an Office In
City, also for any body else in that vicinity who
might want water. to get ready to pay fxed
%ser en
syndicate Is still In all CONFIDENCE. sitting and
ps and is ky to Do r %s
Board and such citizens as were anxious for q
new supply were baked BY various kinds Of
rs gater from IN Beiieyi fsaN "en' Oh pumping
the. water as good as possible. An ACT, passed
sale any offensive matter. punishable BY a, fine
eesdns B%t al s'
tories along the Passaic and It's tributaries
P9Sea heF th u the % Gca s
Newark began e taste very, perseptlbly car.
klnsslands Paper Nils, near the mouh Of
ThFa FveF anH kiagsasdd
the I indiotmens as s" AN % ancient stream Of
pure water" which was supposed to mean that
the water was pure II the long agSS The MIL
they did cause carboiic acid to be turned into
the, Passaic, the water OF the Passaic was so
to the pollution already there, and, further,
4 IL
Of the people to receive the water unR.o,llpted.
p pol or could la theyf 'e'' 'A' ""''' 0A
featuring purposes" said the factory owners:
II yol deprive us Of the privilege Of smptyine
refuge ~ must Ssw ak Wa
the water You drink it. and apparently are
not hurt, Why don't YOU proceed against the
to the stream5 Why don't you go and indict
yourself for .golluting the stream with your
This reasoning was Enthusiastically sound, and
tended to further complicate the growing
problem. A strenuous effort was made In 1882
to secure the passage Of q bill authorizing the
damming up Of the Passaic to keep back the
tide and Newark sewage, but. like other at
tempts at Improvement, 1t failed.
ment OF useful institution called the Joint
Board on Pollution Of Water Supply OF Jersey
City and Newark, composed OF three members
Of the Newark A9ueduct Board. two of the
Jersey City Board Of Public Works. and enc
Board went to work to do what it could to
make the river pure In face Of the population
growing up on either bank. and it has, 80 far
ployed q chemist to make monthly analyses Of
the water taken from different localities. and
an inspector who now has a steam launch in
which he patrols the river every day to look
out for fresh poliutions.
And 80 things have gone until now.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

Free ammonia is derived in the course OF
analysis from those heterogeneous organic bodies
which have already undergone decomposition.
Albuminotd ammonia is derived from those
bodies which have not rs yet so changed but
will with time and opportunity yield by such
decomposition free ammonia In the upper Pas
sale the ratio Of free to albuminOid ammonia
Is ordinarily about to- 3. When the free am
monia arises much above l, and especially
when 1t exceeds the albuminoid. something
for. Tho large amount OF chlorine In some OF
the analyses is due to the salt water present at
high tide at the intake.
Reasonably pure water contains In solution
the maximum amount Of oxygen which water
can dissolve at natural temperature and un-
der ordinary tmospheric pressure. On coming
In contact with accomplishing organic matter 4
portion Of this dissolved oxygen il used up In
the processes OF oxidation. The amount OF
oxygen held in solution, therefore. becomes an
by decomposable organic matter. Decompo-
sition out Of contact with oxygen is petrifac-
ton. and the products OF petrifaction are q
host of bodies exceedingly foul and dangerous
These analyses furnished by the AGueduct
Board themselves show conclusiyely that New
very bad water. Other things show that in
case OF drought or extra detilement they are
sure to drink more bad water. The reports
also show that even at its best 1t seldom comes
tinually hanging over both clti, 8. like skies
full of Damoces's swords. Is the frightful peril
Of u sweeping epidemic, and there Is always
present the danger OF the insidious effects of
water carrying too much organic matter. The
poison, however trting. is taken daily, and al
will not suffer from 1t. it may be sufficient to
make itself felt when he is Frustrated by sick
ness, and his powers OF resistance to such in
huences are then proportionately impaired.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

some distance around had an unnatural hue.
The operations carried on in bleaching, dye
ing, and printing calico involve the pollution
but Chiefly by organic matters. It is said that
INC most most dangerous ones are not turned into
Every inch Of bank that the. river touches is
black as tar when the tide. Is out. Over the
surface float bits OF refuse OF rags and streaks
II have seen that race" said Mr.. Leake.
all colors. sometimes red, sometimes blue.
Il suppose the mill owners know what this
boat Is after when they see her, don't they 7"
You bet they do" said the inspector. They
used to shut of their streams. Of refuse water
hfy % 9me na and dRa
sadstIs uP II r0wboat after dark to collect
'ef How d. do !" you know that they don't empty
forbidden stun into the river when they are
sure you are away"
they have appliances for getting rid Of it In an
little distance above Passaic the water
resume their natural color One OF the princl-
pal tributaries OF the Passaic is the Saddle
Eys Which comes Nnt at q, G9d The
Passaic unless 1t be when leakages occur in the
oil tanks belongtng t9 the Oh storage station
for the little launch Of the Board Of Pollution
above the mouth Of Saddle River The i'm
Rnritties which are thrown into the stream from
tne puby clty OF patterson are ~ present out
Paterson throws out as much stun as she likes.
There are numerous cotton and woollen fac
tories, machine shops. sill and dyeing estab-
ishments, which, 1t Is said, every day pour mil
lions OF gallons OF brilliantly colored and pois-
ready twenty eight miles OF sewers emptying
by thirteen large outlets. to say nothing on
canals and private drainage.
Whom the launch was spinning along on its
homeward trip below Passaic, Inspector Leake,
who was at the, rudder. suddenly exclaimed
spasd nasyre Mas sciSE up ont " tbgs
water and II did look like a dead cur But
when the launch came alongside 1t proved to
Inspector Leake said that about twenty-five
drowned human bodies were picked out OF the
OF them himself, but the man who stands on
the draybridge At Belleyille, which Is . few
rods below the Jersey City intake, IL the man
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
BATTLING WITH A SEA MONSTER
A Finback Whale Kills Three OF the Crew
OF - Whaling Steamer.

PRovINCETowN, Nov. 1.-THE whaling
engaged in the fin. finback whale fishery on the
about fifteen miles east southeast from bequin
Island. Of the coast OF Maine saw a large. lone
ture. 4 boat was lowered and manned with
Capt. West, his mate, and four seamen. Capt.
was si an explosive bomb lance took the breach
OF the boat, while the mate steered. Upon ap:
the whale It was seen that he would
around. evidently waiting to Be attacked.
was rough the motion Of the boat destroyed
II pa Ras
Ep s, nh b BIS a. R m STsR
the out beat the Whale
The whaie,then ommenced to bite and strike
two more nor Neil OLSEN and Chris 5ohnson
who were@u pporting themselves on pieces Of
the boat Vest EN the snsaso and m man
IeR an Gar b S1s
lowered ana the three men picked gp and
ths ash: IssrythIns xss SET i rssdlness:
sne Capt AND his sSs
other. and. taking their positions on the boy Of
asas sc kss S s pns
the debris Of the wrecked boat. occasionally
AS the ship neafed the monster he loft the
wrecked boat and made. for the steamer with
the evident, intention Of striking her on the
steamer cleared him by a few feet but with no
;. The whale then, turned and again made for
the steamer, coming down from the wfndwRrd
for about midshiPs Of the vessel Capt; West
has h1
It's huge head and body into the az, the little
Cd the steamers stern By few ieet When the
swell that the men were unable to stand on the
deck Seeing that 1t was impossible to get
Steamer and crew. another plan Was resorted
TO-, large. strong water cask holding about
25O gallons. was emptisd OF its contents and
head eher ann as she aS
preached HIM he again game to the attack.
distance. Tho whale Instantly went for the
but such was il It's Strength and buoyancy no
damage was done to 1t. After several futile at.
to- "a s c saw Win mis- y ne
ssonal!y striking it with bis head and trying to
bite it, evidently forgetfal OF the ship which
This was Capt. Vests chance. and silently
but swiftly the little steamer glded up behind
him Mt short distance from his tail, and be-.
fore he was aware Of Its approach he, received
the contents OF both OF. the whale guns,
The steamer sheered Of to place OF
safety. the whale forged ahead about 100
yards and commenced to break and lash
the sea into foam in its frenzy and dying strug:
giles. throwing high in air large quantities Of
blood, showing that he had received his death
wound. After, about five minutes, struggling
be commenced to slowly mill around. and final
ly, giving one last breach into the air. came
down on his side dead.
The steamer then went alongside and fasten-
ed to him with harpoons and with strong ropea
and cha ms secured him to the vessel, by which
means he was towed into tho harbor where
graduate Capt. West on his skill and daring In
capturing the whale. this being the first one
ever broug ut into that place.
The whale is upward OF sixty feet In length,
and would probably weigh when captured be:
the largest OF that species ever captured. and
would yield about thirty barrels Of oil.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
MOUTH OF THIRD RIVER.

the basins. The screens. had to be lifted and
cleared about twice week There was always
considerable vegetable and decaying matter
clinging to them, and the odor was not pleas
ant, The boilers are cleaned out once a month.
Mr.. Burnett showed o pile Of dirt that had been
enough to All bushel basket. Mr.. Burnett
said hc never saw any traces OF salt water in
the boilers, even when the river was low and
After leaving the Newark Water Works on
the upward trip the beauties OF the Passaic
banks increase, and Of almost every turn there
Is picture for q painter. The water, too,
seems for little way to be more Transparent,
and this is probably attributable to the fact
that the emptyings from Paterson and Passaic
have In the run down been partially purified,
and that the water has not yet been contain
mated with the sewage of Newark. But this
condition of things doesn't last long.
Opposite Lyndhurst Is the mouth Of another
tributary, Third River. not so easily discov-
cred, perhaps, as tho mouth OF Second River.
A little distance Of It seems only o rift in the
trees which fringe the shore. but on getting
stream between them put In an uninvltins ap-
psarance. This creek rises in a big spring Of
limpid water Just beyond the notch In the First
Mountain, but before 1t gets far mills begin to
deflle 1t. The first refuse poured into it is from
the Manila Paper Factory at Bloomfield. Be-
low this are Oakess Woollen Mills, Davies's
Paper Mills. and Underhill's Knitting Mill.
Further down. Duncan's Woollen Mills throw
out some spent dyestuffs, and the constitu-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH 1T?

Here comes the business end Of the problem.
There is no doubt that the Aqueduct Boards OF
both cities have done their duty In tho matter
from the start. They have no right them
selves to proceed to build new works and take
a supply of water from the advantageous
sources offered in the upper watershed Of New
Jersey They have however and particularly
the Board Of Newark. kept the peoples eyes
open to the dangerous condition of the water.
and have informed them, after careful exam
nation OF all the best sources Of supply.
The question has really become one Of State
concern. Gov. Albeit appointed State Com
mission to determine the feasibility OF the
State Government coming TO the aid II this
closely settled little corner OF New Jersey, COM
prising more than 40 per cent. Of the inhabi-
tants OF tho State, or the people Of Newark,
Jersey City. Bayonne. Paterson, Hoboken,
Elizabeth, Orange. Passaic, Railway, and East
Orange. This Commission, whose report has
been without result, found that no revenues
surplus, after paying the water interest, is alb
sorbed by the expenses OF operating and main
tanning the works, and In the case OF Newark a
large proportion OF these IL carried In q gem
eral tax levy. The following shows this state
OF things plainly:
Water Water Edt>T
Newark ;..,.....".. ,s3,2.1oOo S229.a0n S2sd0O
Jersey City....,-.,...... As3aUCD 5iHo7o $4,000
The annual cost to pump the present supply
OF water with low estimate for maintenance
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
Ingenuity on Both 8ldeA.
From ne Boston Gdsette.

gentleman about to close his summer
house at Nahant conceived what he considered
a brilliant idea to insure the daily personal in
sRection Of every room In his villa during the
winter by the old man IN whose charge tho
establishment was TO be left Accordingly, he
said to tho old man that no should leave all his
clocks, one IN each room, ut Nahant during the
winter, and he desired that every one should
be wound up at a regular hour each day The
old man concurred In the plan with all his
heart. and promised no would not fail. The
deal about his scheme for having every room
guarded against leaks &C.. during the winter,
this gentleman thought he would take q run
down to Nahant, and see how, things were
man who was very glad to SEQ him, and told
him that he had wound each clock faithfully AZ
no had directed. On entering the house the
the establishment OF the owner may be better
imagined than described when he saw ranged
along in a row his thirteen clocks, which the
old man had brought down to save himself th0
trouble OF going all over tho house oyoEy dag.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

wire works and here It is that Second River
tide, that an unpractised diney navigator
doesn't see it until he gets into 4, and at low
tide, or In dry season. even the practised
n n, cant get in at all The mouth is
this is stream which drains large portions OF
Orange, Montclair, Ridgewood. Bloomfield,
places by mills which use the water and pour
tho Jersey City and Newark water supply for
when the tide is flowing its impurities are
backed far above the Newark intake a. It drains
There are several large hat factories on the
stream at Orange. employing about 4 900 hands
and dyes; Near BY Is seabqry Johnsons
porous plaster factory. On Tony'e Brook.
tributary Of Second River. which rises below
the Great Notch and drains the villages OF
Montclair. Ridgewond and part Of Bloomfield,
are Moffett's rolling mill. discharging waste
paper mill, and .Krumps label factory. The
latter factory It is said Smptiess waste arseRiS
printing into tho brook :, Below these are Ell the
sons copper mills. and DeWitt's wire works.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
III.
A LOOK AT THE pAssA1c As 1T IS.


The present inspector OF the pollution OF the
Passaic is Thomas W. Leake Of Jersey City,
and he kindly gave the reporter OF THE sun an
opportunity to accompany him on two Of his
trips. His launch is q black hulled little water
skipper which. by reason OF the peculiar duty
It has been enlisted to perform. has become an
object Of terror along the lower banks OF the
Passaic. where some OF the polluting industries
are stationed. The launch starts every day
from the foot OF Fourth avenue, Newark. Mr..
Leake handles the rudder and Engineer
Charley" keeps down the steam OF the am
bilious boat. Charley's father used to catch
shad in the Passaic, 800 at a haul sometimes.
30 he says; but that was over thirty years ago.
before the river began to be much OF sewer.
and before Newark began drinking out of 1t.
Any shad in the river now ?" We asked.
mot shad." said Charley. The river got
too rich for their blood and they disappeared.
I don't think you could catch any kind of a fish
below Paterson; ut least no one ever tries"
The launch first ran down the river to give
the reporter a chance to mark the copious-
ness and continuity Of a few Of Newark's large
sewers. After passing under the Erie bridge.
sether Is said 1000 loom on either
Essex Railroad bridge is the outlet OF the Mil Mil
together, like the muzze of double barrelled
gun. These twins drain large manufacturing
tract, and a copious stream is continually flow
Ing from them. The stream from one is usually
dark. almost black from the other it Is light.
i think the dark color comes from tan
neries." said Inspector Leake.
A block below is the Orange street sewer. and
another block below that. on the other bank
coming out under the county bridge, is tho
outlet Of the Harrison. or East Newark. sewer.
which drains the whole Of that district. Across
on the Newark bank stand the city gas works.
from which are thrown out large quantities OF
coal tar, blackening the river and dressing all
the spiles In mourning. For some distance
below them the bank Is occupied by Ballan-
tines large ale breweries. They have a drain
a sewer, and from other outlets flows more
refuse From one Of these was pouring
steaming torrent Of white stuff. which foated
off on the black water OF the river in great
streaks, dotted here and there by an uncol-
Of the Rector street sewer the champo H sswer
Of Newark. always emitting a large stream Of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

Above the mouth of Second River. the west
even 9pPqsite Che Jersey City intake: but tho
closed up and vaults to be built. This Is true s
also at points Al ia9ng the river : prom.
residence near the river, formerly ran large
drain from his house into the stream. He WAS
told to close up tho drain. and he got mad. He
your own drains ut Newark :" ' O''' ~
force p9 the aw hen saef he he a%
NeWsT * water GOOD he sad he wouldn't be
they are required to stop throwing impurities
into the river. and who, at tho same time, say
they would 9 not drink Newark water because 1t
no The Rerssy City station Is Just op
end Of a long wall which stretches along the
bank In front Of the works, and it is covered
by a coarse wooden screen. A log raft is an
driftwood and other large substances which
come down the stream with the current or drift
out q patchwork OF leaves. rags, and other
small substances can be seen clinging to the
b ss of the wh5o they &
have to be cleaned off every day. and the odor
from them is not reassuring, to one who has
the pump house. About 17G00.o0o gallons Of
for Jersey City apd Bayonne. Two Remington
engines are used to force the water directly up
to receiving reservoir at the top OF an adj
Jacent hill. and two Corliss engines pump
water, into the top of the tall tower which
stretches up above the trees, and can be seen
for a considerable distance around.
Nearly mile above the Jersey City works
stand tho tall chimnsys Of the Newark pump.
ing station. \ is pretty little spot under the
been tastefnly ornamented. half dozen
substantial brick houses for the workmen and
their families are close by. The intake Is
runs the entire length Of the works. wooden
screen covers the opening. and the water pours
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

The river at this point and below Is certainly
pictures9ue-in way. Over Its placid surface
shines shaleless, blotches Of oil and coal tar.
throwing off all the different rainbow colors as
they glide away on the ripples. cprlsd from the
effects, while the, water underneath looks as
black as night. There Is no bank TO the river
on the west side, The factories and ware
houses tower straight up from the stream on
Spite foundations, and every water;soaked log
goes by the greasy and streaked scum left on IL.
ut Is Just about like this the rest, of the way
down." said the Inspector. giving the rudder a
Mop and jumping the little launch around nose
up stream.
Just above where the launch started is, the
Fourth avenue sewer the highest one In New
ark at present. Another Is soon to be opened.
however. about quarter OF q mile further up.
A large new thread factory In Kearney, just
opposite Fourth avenue, empties It's refuge
further on the Kearney side, and not a mile
and half from Belleyille. where the intakes
are, anotherlR large factory is being erected, and
its owners have signiled their Intention OF
running large drain into tho river. They
have been told that theycannot do SO,
But" said Inspector Leake. :" In spite OF the
efforts Of the Board Of Pollution. 1 presume
matter for factory which has been built on the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

banks Of river to be deprived OF tho privilege
OF getting rid Of It's refuse by the river"
At the time OF the frst trip made by the re.
porter OF THE SUN, Il was nearly low tide, and
the current Of the Passaic was flowing repidly
near the intakes at low tide. When dipped up
in glass from the side OF the launch II epark-
led In the sunlight as clear as crystal and whom
NO" said Mr.. Leake, that's what can't
And you win wonder when you get further up
the river"
The banks OF upper Kearney begin to rise
higher and to take on some natural beauty be-
fore reaching the Belleville. bridge. Through
the trees come .glippses OF nne residences
distance on the other side of the stream
stretches the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. SO sit
just after the little launch has yhisked under
the New York and Greenwood Lake Railroad
bridge 2 group Of queer buildings appears ears OF, on
trees. The buildings belong to the De Witt
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20

half away, and at an elevation OF 2o5 feet. The
cost OF The CONSTRUCTION q those works has
been little less than s4,0000Qo. The present
about $1,000. About 900 aaiIons are
pumped up from the Passais at the Newark
Mr. Burrett IL the engineer In charge OF the
Newark works. When asked II no was much
troubled by tho suspended matters In the
water choking the screens and getting into the
boilers he said that the screens became clogged
very frequently, chiefly from leaves blown Into